Chapter Five: The First Challenge

Kai woke to the distant sound of wolves howling. The eerie melody carried through the forest, making his skin prickle. He sat up abruptly, scanning the clearing. The fire had been extinguished, but the Alphas were already on high alert.

Lucian stood at the edge of the camp, his posture rigid as he listened to the echoes of the howls. His sharp blue eyes flicked toward Kai as he stirred.

“They’re close,” Lucian said, his voice cold and commanding.

“Who?” Kai asked, still groggy but alert enough to feel the tension in the air.

Rhett was pacing near the remnants of the fire, his movements restless and predatory. “A rival pack. They’ve been circling for days, but now they’re getting bold.”

Kieran crouched nearby, his golden eyes calm but focused. “They’ve caught wind of you, Kai. An unclaimed Omega is a prize to them. They won’t stop until they get what they want.”

Kai’s stomach twisted with dread. The bond with the three Alphas may have complicated his life, but he had no desire to fall into the hands of another pack—especially not one that saw him as nothing more than a prize.

“What do we do?” Kai asked, his voice quieter than he intended.

Lucian straightened, his authoritative presence filling the clearing. “We protect you.”

Kai shook his head. “I don’t need your protection. I can handle myself.”

Rhett snorted, a wry grin tugging at his lips. “Oh, sure. You’re going to outrun an entire pack by yourself? You barely managed to get away from us.”

Kai glared at him, but before he could respond, Lucian cut in.

“This isn’t up for debate,” Lucian said firmly. “You’re under our protection, whether you like it or not.”

Kai bristled at the commanding tone but bit back his retort. The truth was, he ‘couldn’t’ do this alone. Not this time.

The howls grew louder as the sun dipped lower in the sky. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the tension building with every passing second.

Lucian led the group through the dense underbrush, his movements purposeful and silent. Rhett flanked the left side, his sharp green eyes scanning for threats, while Kieran stayed close to Kai, his presence steady and reassuring.

“Stay close to me,” Kieran said softly, his golden eyes flicking to Kai.

“I’m not going to run,” Kai muttered, though his heart was pounding.

Kieran gave him a small smile. “Good. But if anything happens, let us handle it.”

Kai nodded reluctantly, his wolf growling low in his chest. The bond between him and the Alphas was still raw, but he couldn’t deny the strange sense of safety he felt with them.

A rustle in the bushes ahead made them all freeze. Lucian held up a hand, signaling for silence.

From the shadows, a group of wolves emerged, their fur bristling and eyes glowing with hostility. There were six of them larger than average Betas, with an Alpha at their center.

The rival Alpha stepped forward, his silver fur gleaming in the fading light. When he shifted, his human form was no less intimidating—a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp features and a cruel smirk.

“Well, well,” the rival Alpha drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. “What do we have here? Three Alphas guarding a lone Omega? How quaint.”

Lucian stepped forward, his expression cold and unyielding. “This Omega is under our protection. You’re trespassing.”

The rival Alpha laughed, his pack chuckling behind him. “Your protection? That’s cute. But let’s be honest you can’t keep him. An Omega like him doesn’t belong to just one Alpha, let alone three.”

Rhett growled, stepping closer. “You want to test that theory? Come closer, and I’ll rip your throat out.”

Kai’s wolf bristled at the tension in the air. The rival pack’s eyes were on him, their gazes predatory and hungry.

The rival Alpha smirked. “Hand him over, and we’ll leave without bloodshed. Otherwise…” He let the threat hang in the air, his pack stepping forward in unison.

Lucian’s eyes flashed, his wolf hovering just beneath the surface. “You’ll have to go through us first.”

The air grew heavy as both sides prepared for a fight. Kai’s heart pounded, his wolf urging him to run, to get as far away from this as possible. But something held him in place, a thread of connection to the three Alphas standing protectively around him.

“Stay back,” Kieran whispered, his voice calm but firm. “We’ve got this.”

Before Kai could respond, the rival Alpha lunged, shifting mid-air. The clearing erupted into chaos as wolves clashed, snarls and growls echoing through the forest.

Lucian was a blur of black fur, his movements precise and deadly. He met the rival Alpha head-on, their bodies colliding with bone-jarring force.

Rhett, all wild energy and brute strength, tore into two of the Betas, his teeth flashing as he drove them back.

Kieran fought with quiet efficiency, his golden fur a streak of light as he defended Kai’s flank.

Kai stood frozen, his breath coming in short gasps. He hated feeling helpless, hated watching as the Alphas fought for him. But the bond thrummed between them, urging him to trust, to believe.

It was over in minutes, though it felt like hours. The rival pack retreated, their Alpha limping and growling in defeat.

Lucian shifted back, his blue eyes blazing as he watched the retreating wolves. “And don’t come back,” he snarled.

Rhett, still in wolf form, let out a triumphant howl before shifting as well. “That was fun,” he said, wiping blood from his lip.

Kieran approached Kai, his golden eyes scanning him for injuries. “Are you hurt?”

Kai shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. “No.”

But his heart was pounding, and his body trembled with the adrenaline of the fight.

“You’re safe now,” Kieran said softly, placing a gentle hand on Kai’s shoulder.

Kai looked at the three Alphas, Lucian, Rhett, and Kieran and for the first time, he felt a flicker of something he hadn’t felt in years.

Maybe… just maybe… he wasn’t alone anymore.